Who Is Bill Dix? Iowa Senate Majority Leader Stepping Down After Video Surfaces of Him Kissing Statehouse Lobbyist

The leader of Iowa’s Senate is stepping down Monday after a video of him appearing to kiss a statehouse lobbyist surfaced, according to the Associated Press.

Bill Dix, 55, was allegedly recorded kissing the lobbyist at a bar in Des Moines on March 1. The video was released on the left-leaning website Iowa Starting Line.

Dix, who is married and has three children, was the majority leader of the Republican-controlled Iowa Senate.

“I believe he made the right decision for himself and for his district, but most importantly, I believe he made the decision in the best interest of his family,” said Senate President Jack Whitver in a statement. “Senate Republicans will continue to move the policies Iowans elected us to pursue.”

Whitver said that an election to replace Dix as majority leader will happen Wednesday.

Dix met with members of the Republican caucus on Monday several hours after the video surfaced, according to Iowa Public Radio. He then submitted a one-sentence resignation that read: “I resign my position as Iowa State Senator and Majority Leader effective at 2 p.m. today, March 12, 2018.”

“Because this involves Senator Dix and a lobbyist, there will be questions about the impact of this relationship on legislation,” said Senate Democratic Minority Leader Janet Petersen in a statement. “This incident follows Senator Dix’s failure to take any responsibility for the $1.75 million settlement that resulted from the sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation against [a] former Senate Republican staffer.”

Last year, Iowa settled a $1.75 million lawsuit for sexual harassment and retaliation with a former employee of the Iowa Senate Republicans, Kirsten Anderson. Anderson said that she was fired as communications director for the Republican caucus in 2013 after reporting a toxic work environment due to sexual harassment.

Dix denied the court’s verdict in a statement last year.

“Anderson was terminated only for her poor work product and absolutely no other reason. The environment prior to my leadership was lacking in professionalism and appropriate behavior,” said Dix. “Any issues that arose during the trial, which had not previously been reported to a supervisor, will be investigated and addressed immediately.”

Iowa Senate lawmakers underwent harassment training earlier this year

Dix, of Shell Rock, Iowa, represented the state’s 25th district.

Dix, a farmer, began serving in the Iowa Senate in 2011 and became majority leader in 2013. Before that, he served in Iowa’s House of Representatives starting in 1997.